Robert Lasso's family says they'll be haunted for the rest of their lives

Hours before his murder Aug. 11, Freemansburg police officer Robert Lasso spent a special day with his wife and daughter, Rose, picking up supplies and clothing for the now 7-year-old's approaching school year, his widow said.

"I am not supposed to be a 31-year-old widow. I am not supposed to raise my children alone. I am not supposed to tell them he is never coming home," Lasso testified this morning, adding that her 5-year-old son, Frankie, frequently asks when he can see his father in heaven.

Lasso's testimony capped about 40 minutes of victim-impact statements from Robert Lasso's family members, who described the seven-year, full-time police officer as a hero to them and the community.

Five relatives, including Jennifer Lasso, 31, read letters to the jury and answered questions from Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli about how Robert Lasso's death has left a void in their lives. The jury is now tasked with deciding if Hitcho should be sentenced to death or life in prison without parole.

Jessica Hawk, Lasso’s sister, and Elsie Stem, Lasso's mother, said Hitcho's actions robbed them of a beloved member of the family. Robert Lasso was a doting uncle who was a hero to the family for his willingness to help in any situation. He would do daily workouts with his nephew Justin, and he lived with his ailing grandmother while he attended the police academy, they said.

"One of the hardest things I've ever had to do was tell my 83-year-old mother he was murdered. She screamed, 'Not my Robert!' over and over again. We will be haunted by those screams for the rest of our lives," Stem said.

Donald and Judy Lasso, his father and stepmother, both said they have grown concerned about their mental health following his death. Judy Lasso said she cries all the time and lacks focus; her work as a secretary has fallen off since her stepson’s murder. Donald Lasso said he would often see his son when they responded to calls as volunteer firefighters. Nowadays, he has trouble feeling empathy for people going through emergencies.

“I feel horrible because I’ve been trained to help. I feel terrible because I can’t get out of the house to help other people,” he said, his voice breaking with emotion.

The hearing was delayed this morning after attorneys and Northampton County Judge Anthony Beltrami went over the statements. The statements were limited to the effect Lasso's death has had on the family, and other details were not allowed in the court.